Developers

API & MCP reference

Base URL https://govcon.dropwatchhq.com. Auth via x-api-key header or ?key=. No key = free tier (last-week sample, limited results).

1 · whats_changed_since the lock-in

Returns NEW/MODIFIED awards since your cursor. Store the returned cursor and pass it back next time — that's your bookmark, and your switching cost.

GET /v1/whats_changed_since
  ?cursor=<opaque, omit for first call>
  &naics=5415,541512   # comma-separated NAICS prefixes
  &agency=Defense      # awarding agency substring
  &recipient=Booz      # contractor substring
  &keyword=cyber
  &minAmount=100000&maxAmount=50000000
  &limit=200

# response
{ "changes":[ {"event":"new|modified","date":"2026-06-21","id":"...",
    "recipient":"...","agency":"...","naics":"5415","amount":1234567,
    "amountDelta":250000,"end":"2027-09-30","url":"https://usaspending.gov/award/..."} ],
  "cursor":"c1_...", "throughDate":"2026-06-21", "snapshotCount": 1 }

2 · delta_digest

New + modified + contracts EXPIRING in 90/180 days (recompete radar) for a filter.

GET /v1/delta_digest?naics=5415&days=7&expiringDays=90

3 · competitor_watch

GET /v1/competitor_watch?contractor=Leidos

4 · search_awards (live)

GET /v1/search_awards?naics=541512&agency=Defense&start=2026-06-01&limit=50

5 · MCP (agent-callable)

Point any MCP client at https://govcon.dropwatchhq.com/mcp (Streamable HTTP, JSON-RPC 2.0). Tools: whats_changed_since, delta_digest, competitor_watch, search_awards.

curl -s https://govcon.dropwatchhq.com/mcp -H "content-type: application/json" \
  -H "x-api-key: gck_live_xxx" \
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/call",
       "params":{"name":"whats_changed_since","arguments":{"naics":["5415"]}}}'

6 · Saved filters, watchlists & webhooks paid tiers

POST /v1/filters     {"name":"my-naics","filter":{"naics":["5415"],"agency":"Defense"}}
POST /v1/watchlist   {"contractor":"Leidos","webhook":"https://your.app/hook"}
# We POST {event,contractor,changes[]} to your webhook when the daily snapshot
# finds activity for a watched contractor.

Honest scope

Live award data is real and current (USAspending.gov). The change-history (our moat) accrues from daily snapshots — it's thin the first days and sharpens over weeks. Endpoints flag this with a note while history is shallow. Live endpoints (search, expiring, competitor backfill) work fully from day one.